The Historical Romance Review

By Sarah Brain and Amy Way

The podcast where an avid romance reader and a reluctantly romantic historian discuss all things romance fiction.

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FAQs about The Historical Romance Review:

How many episodes does The Historical Romance Review have?

The podcast currently has 18 episodes available.

The Historical Romance Review episodes:

August 07, 2026 SotF 6: Somebody Adapt Me!
In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss the sudden increase in book-to-screen romance adaptations. The rom-com might be dead, but the 2020s are full of filmic fancasts of your favourite romance fiction. How can you judge a good adaptation from a bad one? How similar to the original should a movie or tv version be? Is it fair for fans to cry when they have their hearts broken? And should we be striving for accuracy or authenticity when reshaping a story for a new audience?
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #smut #stateofthefield #filmadaptation #tvadaptation #pagetoscreen #romancemovies #romancefilm #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading #bookreview #heatedrivalry #thesummeriturnedpretty #offcampus
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview
Follow us on TikTok @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support and film equipment: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
58min
July 24, 2026 Episode 11: Sense and Sensibility
In this episode, Amy and Sarah step back in time to another historic romance, Jane Austen's debut novel, Sense and Sensibility. Published in 1811, this masterpiece of character has everything the modern romance reader could dream of: a sudden change in fortune, an auspicious ankle sprain, at least one hefty age gap, and enough main character energy to put you in an early grave. Grab a cuppa (or some calming lavender drops) and get comfy, we have much to discuss.
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #historicalfiction #janeausten #senseandsensibility #austenlover #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading #classics #colonelbrandon #elinorandmarianne #agegap #forbiddenromance
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview and TikTok @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support and video equipment: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm
...more
1h 59min
July 10, 2026 SotF 5: Battle Of The Book Boyfriends
In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss and rank the MMCs from the books they've reviewed to date. Could you actually date Ilya Rozanov in real life, or is he just a one-night fantasy? Can the sweet sensitivity of Bo Durand beat the oyster-shucking sensation that is Felix Clark? Does Emily Henry just write contemporary versions of Mr Darcy? And who will win out as the ultimate book boyfriend?
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #smut #stateofthefield #bookboyfriend #bracketgame #MMC #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading #bookreview #heatedrivalry
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview
Follow us on TikTok @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
49min
June 06, 2026 Episode 10: This Summer Will Be Different
In this episode, Amy and Sarah travel to the idyllic Prince Edward Island for some forbidden romance in Carley Fortune's beloved This Summer Will Be Different. If you've ever dreamed of being Anne of Green Gables, eating your body weight in oysters, meeting a very well-read MMC, or secretly sleeping with your best friend's brother, then this is the steamy summer romance for you. Grab a cuppa (or a whiskey and some peanuts) and get comfy, we have much to discuss.
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #carleyfortune #thissummerwillbedifferent #summerromance #bestfriendsbrother #forbiddenlove #felixandlucy #anneofgreengables #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview and TikTok @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support and video equipment: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
1h 37min
May 22, 2026 SotF 4: Hit Me With Your Best Trope
In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss TROPES: the good, the bad and the ugly. And this time, they're joined by long-time friend-of-the-pod Shania Bowa. Why is romance fiction always marketed with tropes? Where did they come from? Have publishers gone too far? Are we being trope-i-fied out of our minds? And do we think tropes will ever not be relevant to romance fiction?
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #smut #stateofthefield #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading #tropes #enemiestolovers #friendstolovers #brothersbestfriend #bestfriendsbrother #agegap #soulmates #rivalstolovers
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview
Follow us on TikTok @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support, camera equipment: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
1h
May 01, 2026 Episode 9: Out On A Limb
In this episode, Amy and Sarah encounter their first surprise pregnancy trope in Hannah Bonam-Young's Out On A Limb. Don't let this controversial narrative-device put you off. If you like witty banter, disability representation, pirate costumes and some Peeta-Katniss vibes, then this tender and wholesome lovers-to-friends-to-lovers is the book for you. Grab a cuppa (or a virgin cocktail of your choice) and get comfy, we have much to discuss.
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #hannahbonamyoung #disabilityromance #disabilityconscious #limbdifference #onenightstand #pregnancytrope #unexpectedpregnancy #boandwin #friendstolovers #friendswithbenefits #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview and TikTok @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support and video equipment: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
1h 33min
April 10, 2026 SotF 3: Going To The Boy Aquarium
In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss the sub-genre-phenomenon that is sports romance. Why do so many readers get their kicks from sports' romance? Is it just an easy formula to create MMCs that are rich, fit and famous? Where are all the female athletes?! And why does reading (or watching) a heated sports romance often translate into real-world fandom?
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #smut #stateofthefield #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading #sportsromance #bookreview #heatedrivalry #formulaone #F1
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview
Follow us on TikTok @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
41min
March 27, 2026 Episode 8: Heated Rivalry
In this episode, Amy and Sarah skate through the cultural phenomenon that is Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry. If you like a sports romance with minimal sporting details, occasional side characters, and explicit sex in EVERY chapter, then this queer rivals-to-lovers is the book for you. Grab a cuppa (or a glass of vodka) and get comfy, we have much to discuss.
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #rachelreid #heatedrivalry #queerromance #LGBTQIA #shaneandilya #sportsromance #icehockey #boyaquarium #rivalstolovers #enemiestolovers #oppositesattract #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
1h 37min
March 13, 2026 SofF 2: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
In this State of the Field episode, Amy and Sarah discuss the rise and popularity of romance fiction. Why is it so popular with female readers and authors? Why now? What are audiences getting from this genre that they don't get elsewhere? How has it become so successful? And is romance fiction the solution to the increasingly-divisive discourse of contemporary gender politics?
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #smut #stateofthefield #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading #happilyeverafter #bookreview #genderpolitics #femalecreators #femalereaders
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
40min
February 14, 2026 Episode 7: Hot For Slayer
In this episode, Amy and Sarah celebrate Valentine's Day with their first novella, Ali Hazelwood's Hot For Slayer. A vampire in New York, a slayer with amnesia, and utterly ridiculous character names, this book and its 500 years of heated rivalry is an enemies-to-lovers for the ages. Grab a cuppa (or a glass of red) and get comfy, we have much to discuss.
#romancebooks #romance #fiction #alihazelwood #hotforslayer #vampireromance #buffy #spike #paranormalromance #books #booktok #tiktok #kindle #kindlereader #reading #enemiestolovers #oppositesattract
Follow us on Instagram @historicalromancereview
Watch us on YouTube @HistoricalRomanceReview
Credits: The Historical Romance Review is written, recorded and produced in Meanjin/Brisbane, on the unceded land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples.
Editing: Sarah Brain
Cover art and branding: Sarah Brain and Amy Way
Original artwork: Caitlin Adams @caitlin_a_art
Original theme music: Jonny Barahona @jonnyenvivo
Sound support: Zac Costa
Recording equipment: John Board
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this project with their expertise and enthusiasm.
...more
1h 19min

FAQs about The Historical Romance Review:

How many episodes does The Historical Romance Review have?

The podcast currently has 18 episodes available.